Two service stations in the Lake Macquarie region have been closed and will have their contracts ripped up after a sweeping national crackdown on illegal tobacco and vape sales.
The Dora Street service station at Morisset and the Wyee Road station at Wyee were among more than 100 Metro-branded sites raided across the country on Tuesday in a coordinated operation involving the Australian Border Force, the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police, NSW Health and more than a dozen other federal and state agencies.
The operation, dubbed Operation Shorthand, deployed up to 300 officers nationwide in what authorities described as a major push against a booming black market in illicit cigarettes and vapes.
The Morisset and Wyee locations were among nine Metro Petroleum sites across the country that were issued with closure orders following the raids.
Seven others were closed in Sydney suburbs.
Assistant Minister for Customs Julian Hill said the raids reflected a hardening stance from federal and state agencies against a trade he said was increasingly moving into everyday retail outlets.
"My message to anyone involved in the illegal tobacco trade is clear: we're coming after you," Mr Hill told reporters in Canberra.
"Australians wouldn't put up with a meth lab in the middle of their local strip shopping centre, and neither should they put up with crooks trying to sell tobacco and nicotine products to their kids, whether it's from a shop, a servo, a pub, or a barber."
Australian Border Force (ABF) Assistant Commissioner for Customs Compliance and Enforcement Tony Smith said criminal networks were increasingly diversifying beyond traditional tobacconists.
"Criminal actors are continuing to adapt their business models and diversify their activities by moving away from traditional tobacconists and into selling their products out of convenience stores, milk bars and even service stations," Mr Smith said.
The ABF said decisions on whether to temporarily close individual service stations rest with the relevant state or territory agency.
Metro Petroleum, Australia's largest independent fuel retailer, said it operates a network of more than 350 stores across the country and took a "zero-tolerance approach" to the sale of illicit tobacco and vaping products.
In a statement, the company said it was "deeply disappointed" to have been told that nine stores had been issued with closure orders.
"We will continue to fully cooperate with the Australian Border Force, Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and any other relevant agencies, and we welcome actions to remove illicit tobacco from the market," the statement said.
Metro Petroleum confirmed it had "taken immediate steps to terminate its arrangements with these operators."
The company was at pains to distance itself from the day-to-day retail operations at its branded sites, stressing it receives no share of non-fuel sales.
"Metro Petroleum is a petroleum brand and fuel supplier. We do not operate, staff or manage the retail businesses conducted at Metro Petroleum branded sites," the statement said.
"Those businesses are run by independent operators, who are responsible for complying with all laws relating to what is sold at their sites.
"Metro Petroleum receives no share of non-fuel sales."
"Where Metro Petroleum becomes aware of unlawful conduct at any site connected with its brand, it acts immediately, including terminating lease arrangements and reporting the matter to the relevant authorities."
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics cited by authorities suggest an estimated 80 per cent of all tobacco consumed in Australia in 2025 was illicit, up sharply from 12 per cent in 2017.
Industry groups and law enforcement have attributed the surge in part to high tobacco excise rates, which add roughly $30 to the price of a standard pack of 20 cigarettes.
Operation Shorthand remains active, with authorities saying further outcomes from the investigation would be announced at a later date.
